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In the past several months there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the proposed changes along U.S. 33 and the impact of those changes to intersections such as Pickerington Road.
Please tell us what you think of these changes. Are you for or against? Would you like to see the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) approach these changes any differently?
By Roadrunner and Coyote
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Rolling over -- easy
Article published Jun 12, 2006
Officials want Pickerington Road signal to stay
City doesn't want ODOT to remove traffic light at U.S. 33
By TAMARIA L. KULEMEKA
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
tkulemeka@nncogannett.com
PICKERINGTON - The proposal to remove the traffic signal at U.S. 33 and Pickerington Road does not sit well with city officials.
The city wants the Ohio Department of Transportation to examine other alternatives - rather than removing the light and reducing access on and off Pickerington Road.
If no other alternative is feasible, the city requests ODOT move up an interchange project slated to be constructed at the intersection in 2012. The city recently submitted a letter to ODOT stating its request.
''It's a tough situation,'' said City Manager Judy Gilleland. ''The city shares the concerns of ODOT over traffic safety, however we also have a concern for access to our community.''
Motorists will not be able to make a left turn entering or exiting Pickerington Road from U.S. 33 if the light is removed at the intersection. Access at the intersection would be reduced to right turns in and right turns out.
It's the ''wrong idea and wrong time'' for ODOT to be considering such a move, said Pickerington City Councilman Keith Smith.
Construction on the Diley Road widening project is slated to get underway soon, making the Pickerington Road and U.S. 33 intersection a much needed access point, Smith said.
''I've talked to two (Violet Township) trustees about this. I've talked to my fellow council members about this and friends and neighbors about this,'' Smith said. ''No one thinks this is a good idea at this time.''
The transportation department hasn't decided whether or not the light will be removed, said Cindy Brown, spokeswoman for ODOT District 5.
The district will make its final decision within the next month, after comments submitted by the public are reviewed. The deadline for public input was last Thursday.
The light would be removed Sept. 1 if ODOT decides to remove the traffic signal.
There is no funding available at this time for the proposed interchange at U.S. 33 and Pickerington Road, but ODOT is committed to securing funding, Brown said.
The department submitted an application to the Transportation Review Advisory Committee for the Pickerington Road interchange. The project will compete for funding against projects in the state's 88 counties. The approved list of TRAC projects will be released in May 2007.
Moving up TRAC projects is not easy, because they compete against other projects, Brown said.
''At this point, it's doubtful that it would be able to be moved up sooner than 2012,'' Brown said. ''TRAC has all projects planned out through 2012.''
Pickerington resident Carol Carter is glad the city is taking a stance on the issue. The 45-year-old uses the intersection every day - whether it's on her way to work in Columbus or to visit friends in Groveport.
Carter, who has ''no clue'' what route she'd take if the light is removed, isn't really concerned about herself. She's more worried about the high school students who attend classes at the Fairfield Career Center.
''There's a number of students from Pickerington and Violet Township that go there every day,'' said 45-year-old Carter. ''You're just asking for more accidents.''
to be continued........
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Keep on rolling
The city isn't the only group opposing the traffic signal removal. The Violet Township Trustees and Fairfield County Engineer's Office also want ODOT to consider other options or put off the project so that other planned projects aren't hindered.
''We haven't had an issue that's completely united all of these entities in a while,'' Smith said. ''I wish ODOT would listen to us.''
Smith said he's encouraging like-minded people to contact State Rep. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, and seek assistance from the state level concerning the issue.
''I like the city manager's letter to ODOT, but given our past interaction (with ODOT) I don't hold much hope for that,'' Smith said. ''I think we've exhausted our avenues on working with ODOT on this.''
Originally published June 12, 2006
Well, well. Wasn?’t this Carol Carter on the Property Maintenance board with Smith? It seems he, Gilleland and Carter have teamed up in media requests. Good for you. I was getting tired of only seeing Hackworth and Wisneski in there always being stuck telling truths. While I would think that closing the interception completely would be a better, or at least safer move for ODOT people around here have to stop acting like Sabatino?’s Diley Clan and open your eyes to the bigger picture. That is what ODOT is doing and what I hope Rep. Shaffer will do. Look at the bigger picture. Why hasn?’t anyone asked the mayor about this? He would be the first to tell Gilleland, Carter and Smith and his buddy trustees that someone?’s OX has to get gored in a situation such as this. The mayor is certainly not the city?’s most valuable intellectual asset but he must stick to his statements of the past and gore someone?’s ox. Well, I guess he doesn?’t have to say it. He has Gilleland, Carter and Smith saying it.
By the way Smith, I would be curious to hear what past interactions you have had with ODOT and why you feel they failed or that you have caused a hostile relationship with them that would be causing you to throw in the towel on this.
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Why is this an issue?
Why did this article contain so many quotes from Pickerington CITY official and next to nothing from the Township Trustees? Isn't this intersection in the township?
By Short timer
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